Lesson 02.1
Meet the Staff
Learn how the musical staff is built and discover how notes are placed on lines and spaces and move higher or lower.
◉ Beginner level
▥ 5 lines · 4 spaces
◎ Reading music
Lesson Progress
Music Can Be Written Down
You’ve already played notes on the piano. Now you’re going to learn how those notes can be shown on a page.
Musicians write notes on a set of lines called the staff.
Meet the Staff
The musical staff has:
5 lines
4 spaces
Notes can be placed on a line or in a space.
QUICK CHECK
How Many?
Check that you remember the basic structure of the musical staff.
Question 1 of 2
How many lines does the staff have?
Great!
The musical staff has 5 lines and 4 spaces.
Notes Can Sit on Lines
A note can sit directly on one of the five lines. The line passes through the middle of the note.
Notes Can Sit in Spaces
Notes can also sit in the spaces between the lines.
Notes Can Move Up and Down
When notes move upward on the staff, the sound usually moves higher.
When notes move downward, the sound usually moves lower.
On the piano, higher notes are found to the right. Lower notes are found to the left.
Which Way Are the Notes Moving?
NOTE DIRECTION
Which Way Are the Notes Moving?
Read the notes from left to right. Decide whether they are moving higher or lower.
Which way are the notes moving?
Great Work!
You can recognise whether notes are moving higher or lower on the staff.
Step or Repeat
When the next note moves to the nearest line or space, it has moved one step.
When another note stays in the same place, it repeats.
STEP OR REPEAT?
How Did the Note Move?
A step moves to the nearest line or space. A repeat stays in the same place.
Step or repeat?
You can recognise a step and a repeated note.
Quick Check
QUICK CHECK
What Do You Remember?
Answer four short questions about the musical staff.
Question 1 of 4
How many lines does a staff have?
Great Work!
You understand the basic structure of the staff and how notes move on it.